Aahz just stood and shook his head, staring at the tent, until I was finished and Tanda had inspected my hair and neck and other areas for a stray scale. I didn't know that we had both missed one in my left shoe until I looked down and saw that my shoe was smoking. It was one of my best pairs, too.
As I kicked off the shoe and emptied the acid scale onto the ground, Aahz looked at me and bared his teeth in a grin.
"Just count your blessings it didn't go down your pants."
I looked at the hole the scale had burnt into my shoe and shuddered.
"Want me to check you to make sure?" Tanda asked, smiling.
"Thanks," I said, putting my shoe back on. "Maybe later."
"I still don't like this idea," Aahz said, turning to stare at the tent, which was clearly why we were on Deva.
Tanda shrugged. "Neither do I, but we don't have much of a choice, do we? You know anyone who might know what or where a vortex is?"
Aahz shook his head, obviously trying to think of some one.
"I just don't like the price we're going to pay."
"It doesn't have to be that bad," she said.
Aahz said nothing.
I finished one more last check for scales and glanced at the tent we were standing in front of. There was no sign, no indi cation that anyone was even in it. The crowd in the street seemed to give it a wide berth as well.
"I just wish I knew what we were walking into," I said. "A little hint would be nice."
"You're staying out here," Aahz said.
I glanced around at the flowing crowds of white-and red-